If it were up to Marlboro Man, we would have nothing but grass planted all the way up to the foundation of our house.

For this reason, I’m so glad the area surrounding our house is my domain.

It’s not that I completely discount Marlboro Man’s preference for only grass. It’s that I am simply incapable of living that way and being truly happy. Or happy at all. So I figure Marlboro Man’s actually better off if I plant flowers here and there…and here and there…and here and there and here and there and everywhere.

It’s better for our marriage, after all, if I’m happy. Right?

No, I’m not a drama queen. Why do you ask?

And this situation is not unique to my household. From the polling data I’ve been able to accumulate, men overwhelmingly claim they would prefer their lawns to consist mostly of grass. Maybe a pot with a geranium to keep the old lady happy, but that’s it. And women overwhelmingly claim they prefer color and flowers and life around their nest.

It’s the same all over.

If you want my opinion, though, I’d say that most men, deep inside their souls, actually like flowers, too. They like their house to be a home, their nest to be an oasis.

277 Comments

I think the guys don’t want to have to weed flowers. It is easier to just mow everything and forget about it! LOL But if they don’t have to do anything, I’m sure they like the home feel with the flowers better too!

102

Erin On Friday, July 2 at 11:39 am

Actually, my husband and I are the opposite–he wants flowers, I say grass is easier. But then, he likes chick flicks, I like crime and horror. So, there you go.

103

Andilynn On Friday, July 2 at 11:43 am

My next door neighbors only have a planter box that runs along the chain link fence because the husband doesn’t want to have to cut around anything when he cuts grass. Boring! I’m glad my husband loves the flowers in our yard. I mostly cut the grass and even though I have a butterfly bush, a blackberry bush, two bird baths, lilac bushes, an herb bed, blackeyed susans, & hydrangeas to cut around…I wouldn’t have it any other way. And slowly we will be adding some more charactar to our yard.

104

Bonnie On Friday, July 2 at 11:44 am

My husband hates petunias. I love flowers everywhere!

105

Cheryl On Friday, July 2 at 11:47 am

My parents have a beautiful rose bush next to their house. For the past 20 years, when my Dad trims it he leaves the cut branches on the bush hoping my Mom doesn’t notice he trimmed back the rose bush! She usually does and some sighing and reminiscing on how beautiful the full rose bush was ensues…

My hubby has no issues with admitting to like flowers. He picks wild flowers for me as often as he can, and helps me plant whatever I want whether it be in the yard or in pots anytime I want. He’s got a lot of very masculine qualities, and no one would ever guess him to be so easy going about flowers. And, I love him for it.

There’s a lot of truth to that theory! However, my husband is more interested in planting trees than taking care of our lawn. And I think it’s hilarious when we have company over and everyone gushes over my flowers but no one notices the trees he’s planted! Poor guy…

114

Mia On Friday, July 2 at 12:00 pm

My hubby likes the tract of wildflowers I planted simply because that’s less for him to mow.

115

Samantha N. On Friday, July 2 at 12:04 pm

Actually, I’m very blessed to have a Daddy who loves flowers! He’s been the main reason we’re always known as “the house with all the flowers” everywhere we’ve lived. Now I’ve taken on a lot, too and we have (by my preference) a lot of vegetables mixed in with our flowers, but the gardening is something our whole family enjoys.

116

Amy i StL On Friday, July 2 at 12:04 pm

This post really hit home with me today. My 87 year old dad – who has always been a major hypochondriac (even for a man) – loves petunias. He’s been sick lately, at least I think maybe he’s been sick. It’s hard to tell when he’s really sick and when he’s being dramatic and has convinced himself he’s sick. When I called yesterday to check on him and see how mom’s holding up; she told me she had asked her doctor what to do about her daughter being so insensitive. It was a big wake-up call to me because I’ve always been daddy’s girl and I guess all the coughing and getting every side effect listed on the box and then some kind of wore me down over the past few years. He has the beginnings of dementia so he’s irritable and short tempered and doesn’t listen or remember stuff sometimes. But he always seems to remember all the side-effects he read on the medication insert.

I wish my dad knew that I always plant petunias on my deck because they remind me of him.

117

LaLaLinz On Friday, July 2 at 12:05 pm

My parents used to go round and round because my dad always mowed over my mom’s flowers. She finally stopped planting them, but this year my dad got too close to her tomatoes while he was spraying weeds. My mom is furious!

Dear hubby likes color, but never will admit it when I try to get his opinion.

119

White On Friday, July 2 at 12:11 pm

From PW:”From the polling data I’ve been able to accumulate, men overwhelmingly claim they would prefer their lawns to consist mostly of grass. Maybe a pot with a geranium to keep the old lady happy, but that’s it.”

The comments so far appear to disprove that notion… well, at least the “overwhelming” part.

Jana On Friday, July 2 at 12:14 pm

I think you are right on lady…and I love flowers, I am just deathly aftraid of the rattlesnakes that love my yard in the summer….so I don’t water the flowers out there much, cause I am afraid that one of those guys is going to get me!

123

DanaK On Friday, July 2 at 12:26 pm

If my husband had his way, the yard would be all cement, painted green!

124

Mary C. On Friday, July 2 at 12:29 pm

My husband likes to plant flowers in the front flower garden every spring, He planted a couple of rose bushes of the bushy kind on the side of our garage. And he gladly mows the lawn when it needs it.

125

Mike On Friday, July 2 at 12:29 pm

Regarding your theory, Ree – I think that your earlier comment was more accurate. Most men, deep down in their soul, just want momma to be happy. Because when Momma is happy, the world is a beautiful place! Praying that all goes well with your 4th of July party and that you and all your guests have a great time!

126

Susan Kutcher On Friday, July 2 at 12:31 pm

I know my husband doesn’t like anything that gets in the way of his riding lawnmower!!

My husband and I are the opposite – while I appreciate beautiful landscaping, I typically don’t have the time nor the inclination to make it happen. He, on the other hand, would love nothing better than to work in the garden and do yardwork to make the place look beautiful. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have the time right now either. But at least he would if it could.
Tabitha

Grannie On Friday, July 2 at 12:41 pm

Ya just can’t argue with such scientific statistics! Of course you’re right, Ree.

130

Melissa McCauley On Friday, July 2 at 12:42 pm

So true! My hubby is the same way. He shakes his head at my gardening, but loves the coziness and eating the herbs & stuff I grow

131

Christine On Friday, July 2 at 12:43 pm

My entire yard is shade, nothing exciting grows in shade. Unless you find mushrooms and hostas exciting. I am so jealous of all your beautiful flowers!

132

Elizabeth On Friday, July 2 at 12:50 pm

My grampa has the greenest thumb in our family, and he loves his roses. I’ve helped him garden on occasion- he is religious about it, almost! Planting, weeding, fertilizing, covering them with straw when a cold night is coming… he loves his flowers. My dad likes flowers around the house, but they’re bouquets he buys for my mother to put on the dining room table

My husband prefers flowers and hates tending to the lawn. It is one of his least favorite chores. If it were up to us our entire lawn would be colorful, but our development most likely would not approve.

134

Suzanne in ABQ On Friday, July 2 at 12:54 pm

Well, my dh would be just as happy with dandelions as grass because he doesn’t have to mow dandelions. He moved us to the mountains and said “No Grass” That settled that. We have mostly natural plants, with a few drought hardy perennials that get hardly any attention at all. I like the flowers though.

My husband loves helping me pick out the new perennials we pick up and all our annuals – its kinda nice to do it together.

136

Kristina On Friday, July 2 at 12:55 pm

My father can’t stand not having flowers. They would go without food before he went without flowers. How’s that for a man!

137

Kelly W On Friday, July 2 at 12:55 pm

Beeeutiful flowers Ree! Since I’m the one who takes care of ALL of our yard I plant here and there and here and there….less grass to cut. I just can’t figure out why it is that the older I get it seems there’s more and more grass to cut. Hmmmm I wonder if my yard is “growing” as I get older.

138

Tracy On Friday, July 2 at 12:57 pm

I designed my back yard with terracing across the back wall surrounding 3 sides of a cement pad, rocks down the sides of the house, covered patio with large cement pad, pillars, tile roof all framing a small-ish curvy lawn right in the middle of the yard for myself and my girls to enjoy. Along comes Biker Boy and he thinks the lawn is all wrong – wants it to be a pool (we live in So. Nevada) and wants all rock to be cemented in. Wonder what he’d think if I took out the lawn and planted fruit and citrus trees – at least he wouldn’t ever have to worry about mowing again.

139

Kim in MD On Friday, July 2 at 12:58 pm

Ha! I completely agree on all counts! My husband acts dis-interested about my Spring flower planting, but he does love it when it is all done and everything is in full bloom!

Gorgeous photos, Ree!

140

Pam, in NC On Friday, July 2 at 12:59 pm

I hope tomorrow is the day you post all these photos again and THIS TIME do your little ‘arrow-and-label’ gig so some of us more flowerly-challenged can know what we’re loving!!! It’s just beautiful!!!!! And all my flowers are dead, WAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

141

NanaBread On Friday, July 2 at 1:02 pm

I once spent a full day building up a flower bed & stringers and planting impatiens and morning glories down the side of my house so I could have color in my yard. Three weeks later, I came home from running an errand to find my husband and 4 year-old working in the yard. I listened in horror as they explained how they had “pulled all those weeds” on the side of the house. So proud, they were, that they had to show me what a good job they had done. I just sat down in the grass and cried. My child thought they were tears of joy. My husband knew better.

142

Tammy Jowers On Friday, July 2 at 1:03 pm

My husband is the exact same way but I know it is because he doesn’t want to have to mow around things. He has grass cutting issues…what can I say.

143

Bekka On Friday, July 2 at 1:09 pm

I love all those flowers! And that fuzzy grass stuff. Please share the names of all of them. Also, it would be nice to have a larger picture to get the full view.

My hubby loves good landscaping, and his hibiscus are his babies – he’s very proud.

Thanks for sharing the lovely pictures.

144

roby On Friday, July 2 at 1:10 pm

You’ve got to get across the pond to the UK. There, men are VERY SERIOUS about their gardens. Sure, there’s competitive vegetable growing for the “size counts” crowd, but flower gardening is a manly thing to do there. A man’s home is his castle, of course, and that includes the riot of flowers in his perennial borders. Where do you think David Austin roses come from? His wife?

145

Debbie On Friday, July 2 at 1:13 pm

I think the reason men don’t like flowers and such in their yard is because it makes it harder for them to make their yard look like a golf course. They have to weed-eat around all that other stuff.

146

Kay Dell White On Friday, July 2 at 1:15 pm

I completely agree with your theory! Lovely flowers by the way!

147

savethedrama On Friday, July 2 at 1:16 pm

I told my husband after we moved into our house that I didn’t understand why there had to be so many flowerbeds surrounding the house since I can’t garden to save my life and would much prefer easy simple grass. I do love the colors and the prettiness but I don’t have the gardening knack; I always forget to water them and fertilize them and all that jazz. I finally gave up on annuals and planted some phlox and a hydrangea in the backyard, which, thanks to the crazy amount of rain we’ve had this summer, have pretty much taken care of themselves.

148

Morgan On Friday, July 2 at 1:19 pm

Hm, in our house I think it might be the opposite. I do love flowers but I’m not so good at caring for them. And the ease of just having lawn to mow with no obstacles (ie flower beds) is kind of dreamy.

149

Janet On Friday, July 2 at 1:21 pm

My dh loves roses–Mr. Lincoln in particular. He also loves anything fragrant so lilacs and petunias are
good. He would mulch everything with white pea gravel if I let him tho’. No way, Jose.

150

JerryG On Friday, July 2 at 1:26 pm

SO (guy) LOVES flowers. He’ll plant flowers in every possible location, water and tend them religiously and now that the weather’s into the upper 110 + and they’re dying, he goes into mourning. Cycle will be repeated, I promise.

151

JenniferB On Friday, July 2 at 1:28 pm

That is interesting- I had no idea a lot of men were like that. My husband hates grass/the great american lawn look and would actually prefer to turn the yard into a gigantic vegetable/fruit/edibles (though not so much flower) garden or mulch it over with pecan shells.

152

carole hanbury On Friday, July 2 at 1:29 pm

The more flowers I plant the less grass he has to mow…so my hubby doesn’t really mind!

kathleen On Friday, July 2 at 1:35 pm

Know how I know Danny loves me? He mows and weedwacks *around* the wildflowers. He doesn’t always distinguish between grass and the iris leaves, sometimes the shoots of the peonies confuse him, but he avoids chopping down all the daisy fleabane, goat’s beard, snow on the mountain (especially all the snow on the mountain!), wild sunflowers, and such. Yup, he’s a keeper;o)

157

Patty On Friday, July 2 at 1:43 pm

My brilliant and wonderful husband ensures our house is a home with his beautiful plantings. English gardens, herb gardens and more, he has grown wonderful food and gorgeous blossoms.

Even better is when he comes in all hot and sweaty after caring for the plants and has a beautiful bouquet clasped in his hand…

Petunias? Not for me. They’re on the very short list of flowers that I do NOT like. =)

It’s not work, it’s gardening!

159

pamela On Friday, July 2 at 1:48 pm

My husband is the race-car version of your MM. He, too, would be perfectly happy if our yard was grass up to the foundations of the house. Then he could make a fast lap of the yard on the mower and it would leave more time for his on-track adventures. When our precious little 14-year-old beagle, Jesse, died a couple of months ago, my sweet, grieving husband insisted on burying her in the woods on our property. But he also insisted that we plant a “generium” for Jesse. I planted a “generium” for her, but the deer who now know that Jesse is gone have eaten every blossom as soon as it starts to open…

160

Kara On Friday, July 2 at 1:48 pm

My husband would prefer concrete so he doesn’t have to mow. Should I trade him in for a newer model with a riding lawnmower?

PW, you speak the truth. My husband has been on a business trip all week and while he was gone, to not go crazy with a 2 and 6 year old, I planted. Knock out roses, Alberta Spruce, hosta, vinca, some purple plant I don’t know the name of but it was only $2 at Lowes, rosemary, burning bushes, and a row of a bush that looks like euclyptis- I forget the name. We get home from the airport last night and my husband did not say a word about them! Grrr! To his credit, two hours later as he is pushing the toddler on the swing, he said, “You have been busy this week.” You think?

163

Kris On Friday, July 2 at 2:07 pm

I totally agree. My husband keeps asking me when I’m going to plant the zinnia’s out front like last year…because the KIDS like to plant them and watch them grow. I know it’s really because he likes them!

164

Julie On Friday, July 2 at 2:08 pm

Just to break your stereotype is my husband. He grew up in communist Germany and the flowers his dad grew in window boxes broke up the expanses of gray the government housing. Now days, my husband plants huge flower gardens in honor of his dad. I actually got a bit mad at him last year, because I was worried that at the rate he was going weren’t going to have any lawn left. But I see how happy the irises, hollyhocks and roses make him, and I just shut my mouth.

165

jep On Friday, July 2 at 2:14 pm

We have no grass at all in our garden surrounding our home, just plants. Guess what? My husband loves it, no mowing!

166

Tiffany On Friday, July 2 at 2:18 pm

Can you go back and give us the names of each of the flowers in your pictures? I know most of them, but a couple I wonder about! They’re all so pretty! Oh and my is the same wasy – actually he would like to plant the front yard and mow & bale it for hay.

Ha! This is funny…my husband “accidentally” sprays them when he’s out doing in the weeds..he claims they looked like weeds to him, but I know better. He just doesn’t like that flowers don’t grow in straight lines…and farmers love their straight lines!!

I have the best of intentions and start every Spring with some baskets and planted flowers. By July they are all dried up and dead. I suppose I should water them more, but that takes energy I just don’t have right now.

Ann On Friday, July 2 at 2:25 pm

In our house it is just the opposite. My husband loves flowers. I can live without them – easily. Of course for me flowers mean sneezing and itching and puffy eyes and I just figure I’m better off without them.

170

Noelle On Friday, July 2 at 2:35 pm

Happy Wife, Happy Life!

171

Dian On Friday, July 2 at 2:39 pm

My husband likes one flower, petunias. He can’t remember the name, but he likes them.He is very good about buying them for me.

falnfenix On Friday, July 2 at 2:54 pm

i got lucky. the #1 guy in my life prefers less grass to mow, so we garden together. he picked out a whole mess of flowers that he wants planted in the next few years, including a specific shade garden in the back.

most of the stuff is native to the area, save a few wacky ones (like my black hollyhock)

Hi Ree!
My hubby is not big into flowers but he really likes the horrendous dracula lilies we have growing in our yard. I agreed not to Round-Up them if he agreed to let me plant whatever flowers I want wherever I want. It works for us! These lilies are definitely an acquired taste. http://savvyentertaining.com/2010/06/10/blooms-of-death/

176

Karen O. On Friday, July 2 at 3:15 pm

My husband wouldn’t even want grass. He’s said he would concrete the entire 3 acres if he could and then would even paint in a swimming pool to “pretend”. I like flowers, but right now don’t have the time to upkeep them.

177

Deb Jenkins On Friday, July 2 at 3:18 pm

My husband loves flowers! He is always looking at ways to make sure there are blooms in each bed all summer long. Of course, he did grow up in a household full of women. Evidently the scars still show . . .

Oh, that is SO my husband! I wanted to carve out a little part of the front lawn to put in flowers or small bushes…something unique and eye-catching and he STILL won’t budge. It’s a good thing there’s more to our property than the front lawn.

Becky On Friday, July 2 at 3:44 pm

4 years ago, my husband and I were seperated (it’s such a long story it’s not even funny!!!!). He was in the house, I was not. It was late spring/early summer when I left. He planted flowers without me, even to the point of building flower boxes on our shed in our backyard to plant some in. He told me that our house wasn’t a home without me and all the special touches I brought to it, including the flowers. So, he planted flowers!! And with that, along with many other things, he won back my heart!

We will celebrate 22 years married in 6 days!!!

184

Brandi C. On Friday, July 2 at 3:51 pm

My husband has planted all 752 plants in our yard. I have not touched one except the comfrey plant. He loves flowers.

185

terri On Friday, July 2 at 4:06 pm

At our house, Ace does the roses, and I do the rest; great partnership!

186

Sandra in Phx On Friday, July 2 at 4:41 pm

I am married to an amazing man that would love a beautiful flowers around our house. With that said, he loves his lawn too. Unfortunately, his lawn has taken a turn for the worst this summer and it seems to be affecting him. It must be one of those man things~you know, I have a beautiful lawn so therefore I am more manly than you. Ours currently looks like death……

187

Ambur On Friday, July 2 at 5:08 pm

My dad is surprisingly the opposite! The lawn is his domain (former farm boy), but when I come to visit we all are up to our elbows in flowers, shrubs, and mulch. Have a great 4th!

188

Meredith Quick On Friday, July 2 at 5:10 pm

Our yard is 125 sq ft. I think it would be wonderful if my husband wanted the whole yard to be grass. Instead, he would rather pave the entire thing and never have to look at it ever again.

I feel fortunate that instead of concrete, however, I have a yard of grass, azaleas, barberries, zucchini, cucumbers, sweet peppers and tomatoes.

189

Joy On Friday, July 2 at 5:31 pm

My father in law has been collecting irises since boyhood. He has some from his family homestead in Hobbs New Mexico, a family homestead in Gladewater, Texas, and all over. He would plant more flowers than my Mother in law if his body would let him.

191

Karen On Friday, July 2 at 5:38 pm

to farmwife79: I think being married to farmer we have to know that if it can’t be done from the seat of a tractor equipped with a loader bucket it’s not landscaping in their minds. Mine likes to hook chains that are attached to his tractor and start pulling….tree formally in the way-no longer a problem. I once looked out my kitchen window to see the 4 wheel drive tractor and a chain pulling out a large evergreen (it blocked his view of the barn looking out of the window he says). I came outside and started to raise a little cane with him. My father in law was there -he threw up his hands and stated ” don’t look at me-I planted the darn tree”.

192

Tiffany On Friday, July 2 at 6:16 pm

Actually, my grandpa LOVES flowers. He plants as many as he can, and many people comment on how beautiful his yard always looks. He was always the one that planted and cared for the flowers. By the way, I love your flower beds.

Agreed. But they can change. After 20 years or so, my husband now seeks out wildflowers on hikes (and sometimes even tells me what they are — though he’s usually wrong).

194

Becky in VA On Friday, July 2 at 6:25 pm

I so agree. Women NEED flowers and men enjoy them, too!

195

Rosanne On Friday, July 2 at 6:28 pm

Your flower photos are awesome! One of our old neighbors had the best flower garden on the block…sorry to say it was a man!

196

joan On Friday, July 2 at 6:31 pm

love the comments from husbands, farmers and frustrated wives, what could be better?

197

Madeline St Onge On Friday, July 2 at 6:41 pm

I don’t like petunias but the rest of your flowers are so pretty. If it were up to hubby we would just be mowing weeds

198

shelly On Friday, July 2 at 6:54 pm

I’m one of the blessed ones! My hubby would rather be surrounded by flowers than grass. I don’t have a lick of grass in my backyard… except that blasted bermuda grass that keeps coming in from the neighbor’s yard, and one day I’ll have just a small patch of grass in my front yard. My hubby despises mowing, and so do I. But, my hubby grew up under his mom’s influence… she’s a florist and she has an amazing flower garden! My hubby and I work hard at making our yard a flowering oasis, I love to work and relax in it!!!

Yes, I have to blow your theory out the window. My very manly, farmer husband, loves flowers. He has actually planted bulbs on several occasions.

200

Kerri On Friday, July 2 at 7:12 pm

It’s the opposite at our house. My husband plants the flowers and bushes and trees. I’ve always had such bad allergies that I have never learned how to plant and care for flowers. My mom and my grandmother have beautiful yards, though. I’m the brown thumb of the family!